Shloka 55

भुवनकोशस्वभाववर्णनम् — सप्तद्वीप-पर्वत-लोकविन्यासः तथा यक्ष-उमा-प्रकाशः

Devanagari script

दृष्ट्वा यक्षं लक्षणैर्हीनमीशं दृष्ट्वा सेन्द्रास्ते किमेतत्त्विहेति यक्षं गत्वा निश्चयात्पावकाद्याः शक्तिक्षीणाश्चाभवन् यत्ततो ऽपि

Transliteration

dṛṣṭvā yakṣaṃ lakṣaṇairhīnamīśaṃ dṛṣṭvā sendrāste kimetattviheti yakṣaṃ gatvā niścayātpāvakādyāḥ śaktikṣīṇāścābhavan yattato 'pi

Translation

Seeing that Yakṣa—though appearing devoid of recognizable marks—was in truth the Lord, the Devas with Indra exclaimed, “What is this here?” Approaching that Yakṣa to ascertain the truth, Agni and the others found their powers depleted—indeed, even beyond what they expected.

Word by Word

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen

• यक्षम्: the Yaksha (mysterious being)

• लक्षणैः: by distinguishing marks/characteristics

• हीनम्: devoid of, lacking

• ईशम्: the Lord (Pati, Shiva as supreme)

• सेन्द्राः: together with Indra

• ते: they (the Devas)

• किम्: what

• एतत्: this

• तु: indeed

• इह: here

• इति: thus

• यक्षम्: to the Yaksha

• गत्वा: having gone/approached

• निश्चयात्: for ascertainment/with certainty

• पावकाद्याः: Agni (Pāvaka) and others

• शक्तिक्षीणाः: with power weakened/exhausted

• च: and

• अभवन्: became

• यत्: which/that

• ततः अपि: even more than that / even beyond that.

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Devas’ encounter within the Purana’s frame)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Indra
• Agni
• Devas
• Yaksha

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It teaches that Shiva (Pati) may appear without outward “marks,” yet remains the Supreme; Linga worship trains the devotee to recognize the formless Lord beyond appearances and ego-based certainty.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Shiva-tattva is shown as transcendent and self-concealing: even the Devas cannot gauge Him by ordinary signs, and their limited powers collapse before His higher reality.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The key practice is inner surrender (śaraṇāgati) and humility—central to Shaiva sādhanā and Pāśupata orientation—recognizing that siddhis or divine powers are secondary to realizing Pati.